KYIV, Ukraine — Overnight attacks by Russian forces using drones and missiles against Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure resulted in the deaths of at least five people and left 39 others injured, according to Ukrainian officials who reported the casualties Tuesday.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Moscow for what he characterized as “utter cynicism” in conducting these assaults following Russia’s declaration of a temporary unilateral ceasefire scheduled for later this week during Russia’s commemoration of the 81st anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.
“Russia could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in kind.”
This ceasefire announcement represents a recurring theme throughout the conflict, with Russia repeatedly declaring brief unilateral pauses during various holidays — including the recent Orthodox Easter — that have failed to produce meaningful results given the profound distrust between Moscow and Kyiv following Russia’s full-scale invasion that began more than four years ago.
Moscow’s Defense Ministry announced the temporary halt in hostilities would cover Friday and Saturday, while warning it would retaliate against Ukraine if the country attempted to interfere with Victory Day commemorations on May 9.
In response, Zelenskyy stated Ukraine would begin observing its own ceasefire starting at midnight Wednesday and would mirror Russia’s behavior moving forward. He did not specify when Ukraine’s truce would conclude.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russian military units launched 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 164 attack drones at Ukrainian targets during Monday night into Tuesday, including a jet-powered version of the Shahed drone.
Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted 149 drones and one missile, though some weapons penetrated the defenses, officials reported. Two ballistic missiles did not reach their intended targets, the air force noted without providing additional details.
Throughout the conflict that started on February 24, 2022, Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The latest strikes damaged natural gas production sites in Ukraine’s central Poltava and northeastern Kharkiv regions, according to state energy company Naftogaz Group.
Naftogaz reported that since January, its facilities have been attacked 107 times.
Zelenskyy described the Poltava attack as “especially vile,” noting that Russia fired a second missile at the same location while emergency responders were conducting rescue operations.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko indicated that Russia primarily focused on energy facilities, oil and gas infrastructure, railways and industrial locations, though the bombardment also caused damage to residential areas, commercial buildings and transportation systems.
“Russia’s ceasefire proposals remain only statements,” Svyrydenko commented.
Ukraine continued its campaign of long-distance strikes against Russian positions in rear areas, apparently targeting additional oil facilities.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported destroying 289 Ukrainian drones overnight across 18 Russian regions. Additional drones were shot down over the occupied Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, and over the Azov Sea, according to Russian officials.
A Ukrainian drone strike injured three people in Cheboksary, a city located east of Moscow and more than 900 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, the regional health ministry confirmed.
Ukrainian drones also struck the Kirishi oil refinery in the Leningrad region near St. Petersburg, igniting a fire in the town’s industrial area, local Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported.
Drozdenko posted on social media that 29 Ukrainian drones were destroyed during the assault. No casualties were reported from that incident.
